Officers with the Wilmington Police Department have offered advice on how to keep yourself and your valuables safe during the holidays.
While families are out taking advantage of the holiday sales, criminals are often taking advantage of the extra activity in local shopping centers, at your home and on the streets, Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous said.
Evangelous said police see a spike in crime each year Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
This holiday season, you can take a few extra precautions to keep you and your family from becoming a victim of holiday crime.
To start, police say to keep an open inventory list of all home valuables, including photos, videos and serial numbers, in the event your items may be stolen.
After you purchase items, keep from leaving empty boxes for expensive items out on the curbside.
While shopping, police suggest you stay alert and be aware what is going on around you. Instead of shopping alone, try hopping with friends or relatives. Shop when the malls are less crowded and teach children to go to a store clerk or security guard if they become separated from the group, Evangelous said.
Carry credit cards or checks instead of keeping large amounts of cash in your wallet or purse. Women should keep their purses close to their bodies and men should carry their wallets in front pockets, whether it be the front pockets of their pants or jackets.
When you are finished shopping it’s important to consolidate you packages into one or two bags; packages are easier to carry and it gives the illusion that you didn’t purchase a whole lot of items.
Also, keep your keys in hand while walking to your car.
Be sure to park in a well-lit area, lock the car, close windows and place shopping bags or gifts in the trunk of your car.
All these tips may keep you from becoming an easy target for criminals, Evangelous said.
Credit card and gift card Fraud
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office has offered tips to guard yourself from becoming a target for credit card and gift card fraud. These are some other scams to be aware of this holiday shopping season.
Credit card fraud
- You should guard your credit card at all times especially when you are out shopping. As soon as you have made a purchase, place it back in a secure spot before you go to do anything else.
- Take your credit card receipts and discard them appropriately.
- When you make an online purchase ensure that the web site is secure. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) should be listed for it to be secure. To ensure it is secure check at the bottom of the page for an icon gold lock.
- If submitting your information over the internet makes you feel uneasy, then do it over the phone dealing directly with the business.
- Credit card information should never be sent by e-mail.
- Always make sure you deal directly with companies that have posted their address and telephone number. Investigate them prior to using them.
- Any purchases you do make copies of them.
Gift card fraud suggestions
- Do not buy cards on computer auction sites.
- Cards should only be purchased through stores that issue gift cards.
- When you buy a card, check to make sure no one has tampered with it.
Other fraud – beware regarding travel and airline tickets; always confirm pricing and origin before purchase.
Remember to be watchful during your shopping ventures. These tips can serve you through the holiday season as well as throughout the year.
